BMW names South African head to run Rolls-Royce

FRANKFURT -- German carmaker BMW has appointed its head of South African operations to run its luxury brand Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd, from next February, the company said on Monday.

Ian Robertson, 46, will take over as Rolls-Royce chairman and chief executive from BMW group finance chief Stefan Krause, who held the post on an interim basis after Karl-Heinz Kalbfell resigned last month to head Fiat's Alfa Romeo brand.

The change marks the latest switch in quick succession at the luxury brand. Tony Gott resigned as head of Rolls-Royce in May. He had held the position since 2002.

BMW's goal is to sell 1,000 Rolls-Royce cars a year, but it delivered 556 Phantoms in the first 10 months of this year.